AUTHOR NOTES:

I'm so so sorry! I got so busy this week. You know-loads and loads of assignments and group activities in school are the reasons. I'm sorry. I'll make up for it by uploading the next chapter as soon as I can. That's a real promise that I'm really really do! Promise! Please forgive me!

Here goes…..

Chapter 1

The Masked Man Part 2

Alice's Point of View:

I felt my cheeks flushing as we slowly passed the bowing maids in the hall. Goodness! I felt like a pampered princess with their respect which I knew I'm not worthy of because were in the same level.

I looked at the marvellous painting on the wall and admired it. It must have cost thousands of dollars. The elegant chandeliers hang on the ceiling and the shiny floor was also asking for attention. The hall was too spacious yet the only things that adorn it were huge vases, statues and paintings.

"This way please" the mustache man said leading the way to another hall where a good twenty doors line up in each corner. "This place is huge!" Runo commented wide-eyed. I swear I heard the mustache man chuckled but when I peered at his face, it was the same cold one before. I sighed audibly that made him turn around to me.

"Any problem Miss Gehabich?" he asked politely. I shook my head vehemently and force a smile.

"Nothing at all, I was just thinking of something"

He nodded and stopped in the twelfth door. I gawked at it, even the door looks like it's carve from gold. How reach are these people?

The mustache man opened the door and held it open for us. "Please come in"

Trembling, I followed him but stopped dead in my tracks when the look of the whole room amazed me. It was simply elegant and it looked so comfortable.

"You must be Alice"

A woman's cheerie voice snapped me out of my amazement. There, standing not a foot away from me must be the most gorgeous woman I have seen with flowing black hair and a face of a goddess.

I heard her laugh and it just added to my amazement, her voice was smooth and silky like velvet.

"Come my dear, welcome to the Kazami household" her arms were stretched wide and inviting but my legs refused to move. There was something wrong with this picture. I just can't figure it yet.

"A shy girl I see…." She commented with amusement and crossed the gap between us enveloping me in a hug. Her warmth and sweet perfume envelope me.

"I'm glad to meet you" she said tilting my chin up.

"Me too Madam" I said timidly.

She chuckled. "Call me Aunt Deanna; I prefer to be called that way"

"But-"

She cut me off with a wave of her hand and smiled. "No more question asked, take a seat"

I did and told Runo to sit too. We sat there in a comfortable silence as two maids came in and pour hot chocolate in the empty cups in front of us and the other one placed delicious varieties of pastries in the center of the table.

"You must be hungry, eat and Tanner, eat here too" he said and gestured to the mustache man. Tanner politely shook his head and with a bow left the room.

"He's a shy butler" Mrs. Deanna said and I can't help chuckling at what she said.

"Tell me Alice, how are you coping?" She asked after a few minutes when we finished our food. It was a question I had expected and I'm glad I have a ready made answer in my head.

"I'm doing pretty well, I guess"

"That's good but do you still want to hear how your father" she trailed off and looked at me knowingly. My stomach knotted and with a very heavy heart nodded at her. The letter didn't tell how he died and I would be happy to know about his heroism.

I heard her took a deep breath and started telling the incident.

"My eldest daughter, Celine is getting married and she was anxious about walking in heels. She's not really good at it and she started practicing. It was a very busy day that we didn't even realize the security wavered. My daughter was busy practicing descending in the stairs when her shoes slip and she fell. I saw it, in fact everyone did. She was groaning in pain but she was alive what we didn't expect was some psycho man running down the stairs with a knife on his hand. Before he reach my daughter, your father-". Her voice broke and the story was enough. I knew what happened already and felt tears pooling in my eyes.

"He's a hero" she said and sobbed.

I wipe my tears away and tried to smile.

"I'm proud of him" I said earnestly and Runo tapped me in the shoulder.

"Yes. But sadly we suffered a lost too"

I looked at her in question and was shocked to see her beautiful face smudge with hate and rage and mostly grief. Though, I was feeling uncomfortable with that look. I ignored it, must be misdirected rage, I thought and look at her in sympathy. Her daughter just died.

"I'm sorry Ma'am" I said to her and the look in her face instantly vanished.

"I'm all right dear" She coughed twice and then rise from her seat which made us do the same.

"Please stay here, I'm just not feeling well, Tanner will show you to your father's grave, excuse me" With long strides she left the room leaving us to ourselves.

"I didn't do something wrong did I?" I asked Runo in alarm. She shook her head.

"No you didn't. Don't worry. It's just a touchy subject"

"I hope so"

We waited in that room for what seem like hours until a sweaty and looking tired Tanner entered the room. He didn't speak and just ushered us out and into the same vehicle that drove us here. Unlike Tanner, Lawrence greeted us with a huge smile.

"So how did it go?" he queried and I frown.

"I mean the talk with Mrs. Deanna?" he added and I forced a smile which made him frown.

"That's…good, I guess"

"What do you mean?" I asked curiously and he shrugged.

"It's nothing just some rumor that Mrs. Kazami is getting too emotional these days"

"Oh, she did turn emotional when we came to talk about her daughter's death"

He nodded in understanding. "Glad she didn't turn in hysterics" he chuckled and I frown.

"Yeah….."

"So it's good luck that Mrs. Kazami didn't turn hysterical huh" Runo whispered with sarcasm.

"Yes, a very very good luck" I agreed, getting the answer why she had that murderer's look in her face. I shuddered just remembering about it.

"Were-" Lawrence was cut off by his ringing cell that he quickly answered. I watched his reaction from curiosity to shock to disapproval and then to sympathy when he put back the cell in his pocket and look at us.

"It's going o be a long ride" he said and shot me a sympathizing look before he sped up the car to a new direction. I frowned. I swear he would say were here just a minute ago. What happened to that? Who called?

I turn to look at Runo who was looking at me with the same questioning gaze. I shot her a 'we'll talk about it later look' and she nodded. I looked back at Lawrence who was muttering something under his breath and was shaking his head in disapproval.

The drive to father's grave took almost half an hour with lots of right turn and left turn. We finally got out there nearly by afternoon and I felt so tired with the silent ride.

I quickly hurried out of the car only to gape at a rose garden in front of me. This is where my father's grave is?

"Follow me this way please" Lawrence said in a stiff voice which he was using since the phone call. He led us across the rose garden and stop in a vast grassy plane. My eyes roamed around the valley until it finally landed on the headstone of my father's grave. It was the only grave there but it was not the time to think of it when every bottled up emotions inside me is threatening to burst. I walked towards it and kneeled. Runo stood beside me as I heard Lawrence muttering about leaving us to ourselves. I traced my father's name with trembling fingers, and can't help but let my tears fall. I just missed him so much it hurts. It hurts that I didn't even get to see him once last time. It hurts that I wasn't there to hold his hand until his last breath. It hurts not being able to be a daughter to him…..

Runo let me cry but she stayed there with a hand on my back, gently rubbing it

"Ma'am Deanna called. She said you should spend the night over at the mansion"

Lawrence said once were back on the road. I nodded meekly, tired of the whole day. We arrived almost by twilight and just like before the maids and butlers were standing in the hall, heads bowed down but I was too tired to get annoyed, amuse or even shy about it. I almost felt nothing. All I could think was to slip in the warm comfy covers of a bed. Mrs. Kazami didn't call for us and I was glad because the maids ushered as to our designated rooms for the night. I didn't spare anytime to take in the look of the whole room, all I know is it is luxurious. I dragged myself to bed and lay there and sigh as the warmth embraced me and I settled into comfort without care.

When I first open my eyes, darkness greeted me with a cold embrace until I remembered I was in the Kazami household specifically in a guest room. A very luxurious guest room, I thought as my eyes scanned the whole room. I spotted Runo sprawled on top of the bed in a corner, sleeping soundly. I sigh and rubbed my temple. I totally forgot about her. Selfish Alice!

I quickly jump out of bed and scurried towards my bag and took out comfortable jeans and shirt. I took a quick shower and padded down the stairs. I'm thirsty and don't want to use that bell in the table for assistance. I trust myself I could find the kitchen, well at least before a maid finds me. I was barefoot and I shuddered as the cold floor got to my skin.

It was silent and I swear any minute something will turn up in front of me in a blink until I heard a very faint sound. I stopped and strained to hear what it was. I unconsciously followed the source of the sound and stopped once again as I recognize it as something played in a piano. One of those classic songs- a sad one. I closed my eyes and let the melody got to me until I felt tears prickling my eyes. I walked towards the source of the melody as it got louder and louder until I found myself in the doorway of a dimly lighted room. There was a grand piano on the center of the room and the moonlight illuminates the darkness, casting silvery rays in the piano and to the man playing it. He has his back on me and I stayed there quietly waiting for him to finish.

I didn't know how long he played it but I almost jumped in surprise when he halted harshly and turn towards me. It was the masked guy from this morning! I felt my breath hitching on my throat and I felt intimidated under his watchful gaze. His black mask was still on but his dark eyes were gleaming.

"How long are you planning to stand there and listen?" he asked in an icy tone. I don't know what made goose bumps in my arms. If it's his voice or the sudden cold breeze that touched me.

"I'm sorry. I was just on my way to the kitchen" I said in a small voice and felt a big lump in my throat. He was silent for a minute and I was sure he wouldn't answer. Just when I was about to leave he stood up and with three long strides reach where I was standing. I almost stop breathing with our proximity but his gleaming eyes reminded me of it. I was aware of the heat his body was giving off as well as his man's perfume. It was making me heady.

"Leave…" he said almost in a whisper and for a minute my fuzzy brain couldn't process it but when he did. I felt ashamed of standing in front of this rich stranger. I quickly bowed down and muttered my apologies. I hurried away from him but before I reach a right turn which will lead me to the hall. I heard him said something...

"We'll meet again, Alice"

Author Notes:

Their encounter was short I know that. Sorry sorry sorry!

Leave some reviews if you wish. The next chapter will be up by Sunday or by next Saturday or any day. I just can't make another promise and regret it. I hope you love it and hey, what do you think will happen next. Stay with me! (winks)